GOING HOME: Tiny learns how to be a dog from human caregiver

PORT ST. LUCIE - Tiny has a lot to learn, but fortunately, he has the perfect teacher.

Dogs & Cats Forever staffer Trish Nofer has a reputation for working with special needs dogs. When she met Tiny, however, Nofer knew he would be one of her most challenging undertakings.

When Tiny, a one-year-old Shih-Tzu, was born, he was not breathing. His owner was able to revive him, but not until Tiny had suffered neurological damage. Tiny was blind, uncoordinated and had trouble learning things which came naturally to other puppies. Nine months later, Tiny's owner surrendered him to Dogs & Cats Forever, because she could no longer give him the care he needed.

Tiny couldn't walk well, and he was used to being carried around. He was not house trained and seemed to have a limited ability to learn. Sadly, at the shelter, staff had little one-on-one time to devote to him, so Nofer decided to take him home.

Nofer said that in the three months she has worked with Tiny, the change has been dramatic. "He has a routine," said Nofer, adding that having a structured environment is important for a dog like Tiny. No longer needing (or expecting ) to be carried everywhere, Tiny navigates most of Nofer's home, wearing a collar and bell so that she knows where he is at all times.

Nofer explained that because of his blindness, Tiny's other senses are acute, adding that Tiny enjoys doing many things that a "normal" dog would do from roughhousing with her Labrador mix puppy, Smudge, to taking a supervised dip in the backyard pool. "He's a terror at dinnertime," said Nofer, explaining if Tiny doesn't get his meals on time, he will get angry and start barking at her.

Nofer has also trained Tiny to both "come" and "sit," and says that he enjoys kissing and cuddling. While she admits that caring for a special needs dog like Tiny is time consuming, she said that watching him learn to be a dog which enjoys life is extremely rewarding.

"Tiny was brought back to life," said Nofer. "A human did that. We owe it to him now to take care of him."

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